<b>Experiences and Spiritual Well-Being of COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit Nurses who Contracted COVID-19</b>

Abstract

Background/Objective: The work conditions of nurses have changed during the pandemic and they have been affected physically, mentally and emotionally from this process. Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine the COVID-19 experiences and spiritual well-being of the COVID-19 ICU nurses. Methods: A mixed method was used by collecting qualitative and quantitative data. The study was conducted in a COVID-19 ICU in a hospital in Turkey. The population of the study consisted of nurses working in ICU who provided treatment for COVID-19 patients. No sample selection was used. The sample consisted of a total of 22 nurses who contracted COVID-19, worked in the COVID-19 ICU. The study was conducted between October and December 2021. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for Windows 22.0 software was used in the quantitative data analysis. Open-ended questions were analysed via content analysis.Results: It was found that the mean score of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale was 32.85 ± 5.69. The scale that used had three subscales. The meaning subscale score was 12.85 ± 2.34. Peace subscale's mean score was 10.90 ± 2.35. Faith subscale means score was 9.10 ± 4.17. In the Mann Whitney U test, those who did not attend any courses and scientific activities had a higher peace subscale score (U= 23; P=0.038). As a result of the content analysis, five themes were determined. Conclusion:It can be asserted that spirituality is important for nurses, who are the occupational group that will be most affected in a pandemic, to cope with this difficult process, and it is necessary to include practices that will increase moral support in the trainings or plans to be made.